Scream OG Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Ruin the Series with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a major family reunion. This new chapter marks the iconic comeback of Neve Campbell as survivor Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the previous film. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Coming back to a role you portrayed in your twenties when you're 55 was a daunting task that kept me up at night," the actor reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that three different characters from earlier films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The precise method of their resurrection remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the beloved and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the director and third film antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Pressure of Iconic Status

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a small cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he got the news from the series creator.

"I recall the phone call. I recall the pleasantries. I recall him posing the question. That moment is indelibly imprinted on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the original film was released, which made Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Letting Down the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting like the rest of us to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about hoping not to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I have no idea if the film will be successful. I don't know if people want to see me. I've certainly seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others come back persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a prior storyline. Alternatively, maybe they are in some way all alive in a bizarre shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.